FLORENCE – Emotions on the North Alabama volleyball team went from one extreme to the other Saturday afternoon as the Lions saw both ends of a five-set decision during the team’s final two matches at the UNA Classic. First, the Lions experienced the high of rallying from an 0-2 deficit to post a 3-2 win over No. 13 Truman State. Then, it was UNA’s turn to suffer a defeat after being ahead 2-0 when Northern Kentucky came back from the same deficit to knock of the homestanding Lions in five sets.

North Alabama (2-6) has now played in three straight five-set matches dating back to Friday night’s 2-3 loss to California-Pennsylvania at Flowers Hall. The Lions will travel to Pensacola, Fla., next weekend to open regional play at the West Florida South Region Crossover.

Against Truman, the Lions quickly found themselves in an 0-2 hole after falling 25-14 and 27-25 in the first two sets. UNA responded by winning the next two sets 25-19 and 25-20 to force a deciding fifth set for the second consecutive match.

In the final game, Sarah Roberts had six of her match-high 18 kills as the Lions hit .429 as a team and posted the 15-8 victory. It was the fourth time in head coach Stephanie Radecki’s UNA tenure that the Lions rallied to win after losing the first two games, including the second against Truman State. In 2006, UNA came back from an 0-2 deficit to knock off the top-ranked Bulldogs on the road in the NCAA tournament.

On Saturday, the Lions took advantage of 44 TSU miscues to get the much-needed win. Cara Gregg added 13 kills for UNA while Kristin Zull also reached double digits in the category with 12 for the match. Alison Jacobs had 47 assists.

Defensively, UNA’s Brigid O’Brien continued to post impressive numbers over the weekend, upping her new career high in digs for a single match with 35. Zull and Shae Watkins added nine digs each.

In the second match UNA looked to be in control after posting 25-23 and 25-17 wins over the Norse (4-3). Northern Kentucky, however, responded by winning three straight sets to take the match. A 25-21 win in the third set and a 25-20 showing in Game 4 set the stage for the deciding game. NKU saved its best showing for last, hitting .400 as a team to win the match with a 15-12 victory.

Roberts had 20 kills while Gregg added 16 for the Lions. Three UNA players reached double digits in digs with O’Brien leading the way with 15. Lauren Greenhill added 14 digs while Jacobs had 13. Jacobs just missed a triple-double for the match after also producing 46 assists and eight kills for UNA.